Sea Salt
Sea salt: a powerful and tasty (table) salt. But what is sea salt?
Sea salt is a type of salt that comes from the sea and is extracted using so-called 'salt basins'. The seawater in such a shallow basin is influenced by sun and wind, after which a salt sediment layer remains, which can be mined by machines.
Sea salt has a relatively coarse grain - a texture that is coarser than that of vacuum salt, for example. In addition to that, sea salt contains several minerals, which provides an intense flavour.
What is stone salt?
Stone salt is salt from the sea from sediment. It is mined from underground mines, in places where the sea used to have free play. Stone salt is a layer of salt from a vanished sea, which is then encapsulated in the earth. The great advantage of rock salt is that it is exceptionally pure. This has everything to do with the fact that it has not been used for thousands of years: it does not come from open seas that are subject to pollution.
What does Stone salt look like?
Stone salt is a sedimentary salt, originating from mines. It is partly formed under pressure from overlying layers. Stone salt by nature is colourless and glassy. The more fractures and scratches there are in the salt, the whiter the colour becomes.
Stone salt grains therefore often have a very white colour, almost indistinguishable from other types of salt. Stone salt is also widely used in the Netherlands, in the food industry, but also as bath salt.
Buy sea salt? Sea salt vs. common salt
Colossal sea salt has its advantages: it is seen as particularly pure and also full of minerals. There are some differences between "ordinary" salt and sea salt, from open water:
- The appearance: whereas common salt has a very fine structure, sea salt is much coarser. Common salt is easier to mix into dishes, whereas sea salt has a more "dominant" presence. This also has its advantages: sea salt can be used as a seasoning.
- The origin: sea salt comes from salt water lakes or sea and is extracted by an evaporation process. Almost nothing is added to sea salt. The 'ordinary' salt is processed. Iodine is often added to it. Plus minerals are destroyed in the processing. You will also find anti-caking agents.
How do sea salt and table salt agree?
In both sea salt and table salt is a lot of sodium: the amounts barely differ. Moreover, table salt and sea salt have more or less the same nutritional value. The taste of sea salt is usually more refined.
What is unrefined sea salt?
Unrefined sea salt is sea salt that has not been washed. It is grey in colour. There are a number of advantages and disadvantages to unrefined sea salt. The salt contains various minerals, although it can also contain traces of nature, such as bacteria and algae. Only use unrefined sea salt if you can trace its origin. unrefined sea salt where to buy?
What is meant by Celtic sea salt?
In short, Celtic sea salt is a salt from the area of the ancient Celts. When we talk about Celts, we mean peoples from the millennium before the beginning of the Christian era lived in various parts of (Western) Europe.
The term Celtic actually refers to peoples who spoke a Celtic language. The peoples were only linguistically a unit. Celtic sea salt is actually too broad and therefore a misleading name.
What is the origin of Celtic sea salt?
Want to buy Celtic sea salt? Do not count on it that this salt comes from half of Europe. On the contrary, it comes from the region of Brittany in France and yes, this is where the Celts used to live. Guerande salt, as Celtic is also called, is a much more appropriate name: it refers to Brittany in particular. Celtic sea salt is usually not refined.
Different forms of Celtic sea salt
Celtic sea salt is actually named after the salt extraction method that was supposedly used by Celts. There are two different forms: Sel Gris (grey salt - the salt has that colour because it has not been refined) and Fleur de Sel or Sel de Fleur (literally, 'flour of salt').
These types of salt contain many trace elements and minerals, which makes for a full and nuanced taste. The salt tastes not only salty, but also has a hint of sweet and of bitter.
Treatment of Celtic sea salt
In the region of Guerande in Brittany, there are salt marshes that were already created by the Celts. The sea water was then let in via a system of canals. The salt water was led from one basin to the next.
In total, the process took about two weeks. The salt in the last shallow basin was dried by the sun and scooped up by hand. The salt extraction process today takes place in exactly the same way.
Fleur de Sel
This variant of Celtic salt has a grain thickness of 0-4 millimetres. This salt is the top layer that is found in the salt pan. It is extracted by hand and not processed. The production of Fleur de Sel is therefore very limited. This also makes Fleur de Sel very expensive. The salt is moist and has a soft structure of grains. It is considered to be a delicacy.
What is Dead Sea salt?
Dead Sea salt is mined in the Dead Sea and has therapeutic applications. This is due to the high concentration of minerals in the salt, including potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium and even sulphur.